[CR]Campagnolo 144 bcd 39T chainring ??

(Example: Production Builders:Cinelli:Laser)

From: Donald Gillies <gillies@cs.ubc.ca>
Date: Thu, 21 Oct 2004 16:01:46 -0700 (PDT)
To: classicrendezvous@bikelist.org
Subject: [CR]Campagnolo 144 bcd 39T chainring ??

So I found an auction by a guy who has some amazing vintage parts :

http://ebay.com/<blah>

Including a Stronglight 63 crankset that is currently listing for $465 :

http://ebay.com/<blah>

And I emailed the guy saying, "I'm afraid you are confused, your 144 BCD chainring that is a 39T (i counted it twice) _must_ be a 135 modern ring. The 144 BCD is too large to support a 39T chain ring." I got back this response :

From: "Alain lapierre" <zux881@hotmail.com>

HI,

This is NOT a retail version of the 144 BCD chainring. This 39T version was produced purely for Professional teams in the harder mountainous stage races, like the Tour and the Giro, in the late 80's. I know, because I've ridden a bike with this set up. Never presume to be an expert, until you've ridden the bike for money. A professional is a professional down to his 'vero cuiro' insoles.

Kind Regards R

Is this really true ?? Can we get 39T chainrings for our 144 BCD cranks ?? That would make me reconsider the need for a campy triple if it's true.

- Don Gillies
San Diego, CA